This season will be remembered for the unprecedented 11-game winning streak in July and missed opportunities, such as the night Clay Holmes took the mound at AT&T Park in San Francisco with the Pirates in the thick of the Wild Card race.
At times, they proved to have the talent to compete with the league's best, only to show there's still a divide between them and the three teams who finished above them in the Central Division race. Middle relief and infield defense were problems. Again, Clint Hurdle's roster didn't hit for power and both of his hitting coaches were dismissed Monday.
Still, the Pirates achieved only their fourth winning season in 26 years, finishing with an 82-79 record and 13 games back of the division-winning Brewers. The starting rotation and bullpen blossomed. Even Gregory Polanco had a career year prior to his season-ending injury. Hurdle and Neal Huntington enter this offseason with far more certainty than a year ago; however, all involved expressed disappointment over the missteps along the way.
"I’m pleased, not satisfied, because there were some tipping points where I think we really needed to show up and we didn’t," Hurdle said. "There were points in the season we really needed to show up. Opportunities for growth and for cohesion. If you don’t do it together you have a tendency to go the other way, and it seemed like every time we ran into one of those points, even though we had some losing periods, that the focus and the preparation was there."
CATCHER
This position far exceeded expectations this season. There was reason to believe Francisco Cervelli would rebound in some way after another injury-shortened season in 2017. The 32-year-old spent last offseason strengthening his lower body and focused on flexibility to become a better defender behind the plate. And one could argue he was the team's most valuable player when on the field.
In addition to his work with that blossoming pitching staff, Cervelli batted .259 with an .809 OPS and a career-high 12 home runs with 57 RBIs in 104 games. He produced a 3.3 fWAR, the third-highest mark in the majors. Elias Diaz, now 27, also proved capable of starting when Cervelli dealt with post-concussion symptoms this summer.
Diaz batted .287 with an .807 OPS, 10 home runs and 34 RBIs in 60 starts. Collectively, the Pirates' catchers produced the second-highest OPS and second-most RBIs in the majors. They also ranked third in batting average and sixth in caught stealing percentage, a remarkable improvement from the previous season. Cervelli threw out 21 runners attempting to steal against him, which tied with the Phillies' Jorge Alfaro for the most among National League catchers.
Both catchers are expected to return next season and will again be the strength of the roster, though Jacob Stallings is out of minor-league options and Ryan Lavarnway will be gone.
Grade: A+
FIRST BASE
A quick look at Josh Bell's .261/.357/.411 slash line might lead you to believe there was only slight regression from his rookie season. After all, the on-base percentage jumped more than 20 points and he even raised his batting average. The 26-year-old even hit five more doubles this season. However, there was startling regression with his power, as he finished with only 12 home runs and 62 RBIs in 148 games.
Bell was demoted from the cleanup spot in June and never showed the ability to be a consistent run producer. To be fair, there was some improvement with the nuances, particularly his approach from the right side of the plate, but the Pirates need more from a first baseman with his sort of power potential. Hurdle and Huntington both challenged Bell to be "that guy" for this team next season, encouraging him to stick to one swing, one approach. Too often Bell would tinker and that led to some issues with timing.
That said, all involved were hopeful at the end of the season as he batted .301 with a .961 OPS, four home runs and eight RBIs in his final 21 games. That's the sort of production this offseason needs in 2019, especially with Gregory Polanco not expected to return until mid-April at the earliest. Bell will also have to improve his defense, as his negative-9 defensive runs saved ranked last among qualified first basemen.
Grade: C
SECOND BASE
This position would receive a failing grade had it not been for Adam Frazier's late-summer revival. To be fair, Josh Harrison dealt with a broken hand and a lingering hamstring this season. He later admitted that he returned too soon from the former out of necessity because there was no way to simulate game speed in the minor leagues. As a result, the two-time All-Star batted .250 with a .656 OPS in 97 games, his fewest since 2013. He also struggled defensively, posting a negative-2 defensive runs saved.
That's nowhere near the production the Pirates needed, particularly when Harrison made $10.25 million this season. They'll surely pay him $1 million to become a free agent, which will begin Frazier's tenure as the starter. Frazier, 26, was one of few bright spots during the club's ugly August and batted .306 with a .890 OPS, seven home runs and 27 RBIs in 55 games, 39 starts, after being recalled July 25.
There was also gradual improvement with his infield defense. Remember, Polanco's absence could force Frazier to play some right field at the start of next season, but make no mistake, he's their long-term starter at second base.
"It’s really encouraging that he continues to get better there, really encouraging that he gets better the more he plays," Huntington said. "It’s not like we’re dealing with a guy with a life of second-base opportunities and he’s scuffling."
Grade: C+
THIRD BASE
Huntington isn't satisfied with Colin Moran's progress. That much became obvious last Sunday in Cincinnati when he told reporters Jung Ho Kang has an "every day opportunity" if he chooses to return to the Pirates. To be clear, the team will likely decline Kang's $5.5 million team option before trying to bring him back on an incentives-laden contract. He logged only six at-bats this season, so he won't factor into the overall grade here.
The criticism directed at Moran is a bit unfair. He missed most of the second half in 2017 when he broke his orbital bone and suffered a concussion after fouling a ball off his face. That occurred following a breakout first half at Triple-A Fresno, where he finished with 18 home runs. The hope, both internally and among the fan base, was Moran would provide the left-handed power this team lacked last season. However, he finished with only 11 home runs, 58 RBIs and a .747 OPS. That led to only a 0.7 fWAR.
Like Bell, Moran did finish strong with a .324 average, .908 OPS, six doubles, three home runs and 12 RBIs over his final 29 games, 19 starts. His overall production isn't enough for a roster that ranked 25th in the majors in home runs. Moran's defense at third base isn't a great fit, either. He produced negative-8 defensive runs saved, the fourth-worst mark among qualified third basemen.
With David Freese's departure, the Pirates will make a strong push to get Kang back for at least one more season. Jose Osuna, Pablo Reyes and Kevin Kramer are the only other options at third base. But the front office would prefer that Moran become the power hitter they thought he could be when including him in the Gerrit Cole trade.
Grade: C -
SHORTSTOP
Jordy Mercer was bad in April, June and September. Otherwise, he had a fairly impressive season at the plate. The same can be said for much of this offense, though their bad stretches came at different times. Mercer, 31, batted .292 with a .757 OPS in July and was continuing to produce in August before suffering a hamstring injury.
He didn't get much of a chance after that, since the Pirates turned to Kevin Newman. Mercer will become a free agent after the World Series and is unlikely to receive the $6.75 million salary he was paid this season. Huntington will probably not bring Mercer back, even if there's a chance at a discount. Mercer's defensive lapses were far more concerning than anything he did at the plate.
Mercer produced a negative-9 defensive runs saved, making the Pirates' middle infield one of the worst in the majors. They'll be in the market for a veteran this winter and will surely prioritize defense over offense. Perhaps the far more concerning development in 2018 was Newman's play in September.
Newman, a first-round pick in 2015, batted .209 with a .478 OPS and six RBIs in 91 at-bats, while producing a negative-2 defensive runs saved. It's wise to not overanalyze September production, particularly with a rookie, but this at least raised some concern with the front office. Cole Tucker, their top shortstop prospect, also struggled offensively at Double-A this season and won't be ready for the majors in 2019. That could force Huntington to spend on a veteran stopgap this offseason.
"In Kevin Newman, we’ve seen a better defender in the minor leagues," Huntington said. "The game is a little bit quicker up here. He’s not the first infielder to get beaten by the speed of the game and the speed of the runners and he’s having to adjust his internal clock a little bit. He has the ability to play a good shortstop, and he’s learning how major league pitchers are going to attack him."
Grade: D
OUTFIELD
Huntington deserves credit for acquiring Corey Dickerson for a minor-league shortstop in late February. Dickerson, an All-Star for the Rays last season, batted .300 while starting a career-high 122 games in left field for the Pirates and could win his first career Gold Glove. As a result, he produced a 2.7 fWAR, which was higher than Andrew McCutchen's mark of 2.6.
Dickerson will receive a raise through arbitration this offseason and will become a free agent next winter, providing the Pirates with a potential placeholder until a prospect such as Travis Swaggerty is ready for the majors. Starling Marte frustrated his bosses and fans throughout the summer with his mental lapses in the field and on the bases, however, he rebounded nicely after being suspended 80 games in 2017.
Marte produced a 3.7 fWAR with a .277 average, .787 OPS, 20 home runs, 74 RBIs and 33 stolen bases. There's more production in there, too. He's part of the solution, not part of the problem. Hurdle's challenge is to coax more out of the center fielder, much like he did with Polanco this summer.
Polanco suffered season-ending injuries on a slide last month and could be out until mid-June 2019 after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder. That was a difficult ending to a career year. The right fielder batted .254 with a .839 OPS and a career-high 23 home runs with 81 RBIs. Like Marte, Polanco also had lapses in the field, but he was also lauded for his leadership qualities.
Still, the group is capable of more. Dickerson hit only 13 home runs, while Marte and Polanco were terrible for months at a time. Those lengthy slumps are partly why this team will have two new hitting coaches in 2019.
Grade: B +
ROTATION
This group changed the narrative. Entering this season, Ray Searage and the organization were criticized for an inability to adapt. Even their most talented pitchers were getting hit hard by trying to pitch to contact. That's no longer the case, and it's this staff that deserves most of the credit. Jameson Taillon, Trevor Williams and Joe Musgrove each had success this season by throwing fastballs to the top of the zone.
Sure, the group finished with fewer strikeouts than the Pirates' staff did with Cole in 2017, but that pitch made each of them more effective. Williams (3.11) and Taillon (3.20) ranked eighth and tenth respectively among the NL leaders in ERA. That's the first time since 1991 the Pirates finished the season with two pitchers among the top 10 ERA leaders.
They also shared the team lead with 14 wins, the first time since 1978 the team's had two right-handed pitchers win 14 or more games. Taillon made 22 consecutive starts allowing three or fewer runs, the most for a Pirates pitcher since 1963, and his 3.7 fWAR exceeded Cole's mark of 3.1 from 2017. He made 32 starts with 191 innings and a team-high 179 strikeouts.
Williams' 1.38 ERA in 12 second-half starts is the lowest mark in franchise history. Also, Musgrove posted a 1.18 WHIP in 19 starts this season. Ivan Nova also finished strong, and Huntington acquired two-time All-Star Chris Archer, who had a 2.70 ERA in September. Although Chad Kuhl will miss all of next season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, the Pirates have Mitch Keller at Triple-A. This rotation's ascent should offer hope for the future. The Pirates haven't had a staff like this since those three consecutive playoff seasons.
Grade: A -
BULLPEN
The Pirates have an impeccable bullpen again. Felipe Vazquez finished with 37 saves. Kyle Crick, acquired from the Giants in the McCutchen trade, posted a 2.39 ERA and 1.27 WHIP while averaging 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings. Richard Rodriguez set the Pirates rookie record with 88 strikeouts and had a 1.06 WHIP in 69 1/3 innings.
Edgar Santana, who will miss all of 2019 because of Tommy John surgery, had a 1.01 WHIP in 66 1/3 innings. The club also acquired Keone Kela at the non-waiver trade deadline. Kela, 25, had 25 saves for the Rangers before joining the Pirates and was shutdown in September to manage his workload. This group also deserves credit for the pitching staff having the second-lowest ERA in the majors after July 8.
However, middle relief is a weakness. That group's inability to keep deficits manageable led to a number of blowout losses. Barring any offseason additions, the Pirates will enter spring with Michael Feliz, Dovydas Neverauskas, Nick Kingham and Steven Brault all competing for those middle relief spots. That's not ideal.
"It was middle relief where we weren’t strong enough," Huntington said. "That’s an area where (with) payroll (such) as ours, you need to fill internally. But we will take a look. And if there is somebody out there at the right dollar … we’ll take a look at it. But the first place we’ll look will be internally. Our rotation was really good, our back end was really good. It just shows how much we struggled to keep a 5-2 deficit at 5-2 to give our offense a chance to chip away."
Grade: B +